If I want new fish I get them when they come in, preferably BEFORE they touch the LFS water. Everything goes into quarantine and is medicated with quick cure and fed metronidazole flakes for a week. 9 out of 10 shops have no clue what they're doing. The chains are worse. Fish left in their incompetant hands never get better, only worse, with a greater range of problems. When I walk through a store I can tell from 10 feet away which fish are sick, just by where they hang out and how they behave. I seldom see quality fish anymore, except at specialists like "Uncle Ned's".

There's one LFS up in Ft Myers (over an hour from my house ) that actually does an excellent job with their fish- Rich QTs for a minimum of a month before he ever puts fish out on display, and actually is a GOOD source for advice.

The rest of the places in town... I don't think I'll ever buy fish from again. Just too risky.

I guess it comes down to whether or not you have real quarantine tanks. I don't trust pet stores to do my quarantine for me, as there is way too much going on in a normal store. A small Q tank is cheap insurance. I LOVE quick cure as a general all round disease prophylactic. Just because a fish looks good doesn't mean it's clean. Same with some of the girls I once dated. Better safe than sorry.

All the above advice is great! I recommend walking around the LFS and check around for floaters and sinkers (dead fish) if you see any get out of there quick. Sure fish die due to stress or whatever but in my opinion if you cant at lease keep an eye on your stock you aren't doing a good job at keeping your fish. Try to make a friend at your LFS it helps and if you are a good customer they might even throw in some deals every once in a while. If it was my store and I had a sick fish he would be in a quarantine tank away from all other fish!

Learn when the shipments get in and spy on the LFS pass by and see how they are acclimating the fish and see if you approve.

Be careful and ALWAYS have them feed the fish before you take it home. I was at a LFS in Miami, Fl when I overheard one of the owners say to a coworker "Hey just put it on sale someone will buy it even if its not eating, Id rather sell it than have it die here" I kid you not . That was the last time I ever walked into that store. Just be careful another trick is if you are not sure see if they will hold the fish for you. They might require a deposit, if you are their friend they might not. Have them hold the fish for 2 or 3 days... If its sick it will probably not make it to that third day or look really sick by then at which point you could probably get your deposit back.

My last trick is look for a sick fish and attempt to buy it. If the person even attempts to catch it without telling you there is something wrong with the fish tell him you forgot your wallet at home and RUN!!!!

oceansunltd wrote:If I want new fish I get them when they come in, preferably BEFORE they touch the LFS water... Fish left in their incompetant hands never get better, only worse, with a greater range of problems.

I have done this before and agree that it can minimize stress to the fish with one less tank introduction. I have figured out when most of the LFS in town receive their shipments and try to get there before the first fish touches the water.

It is also a good point that many fish stores use a combined filter... fish in an entire section may be at risk for infection if one tank is infected.

A good LFS should not sell fish from any tank that contains an obvious disease. They will put up a "not for sale" sign instead of assuming ignorance of its customers. Or, you could suddenly forget your wallet...

Recently one of the LFS near me had an entire section with water that looked like milk. I went back a couple of days later and it had cleared up but I would still not have taken those fish home.

I also get really turned off when I see dyed fish in a dealer's tanks. If I had more choice available, I would walk out and never go back!

LFS, what's that? All we have around here are the "big box" stores or PetsMart... both leave much to be desired.

Over the past two years, I've aquired all my fish either on AquaBid or through local breeders/hobbyists. I've lost 2 fish, (from a group of Fireline Danios that I picked up at the ACA convention last July), and that was due to my own fault. For my money, locally raised is far superior to what you'll find in the store. And I'm not just saying that because I sell fish.

Go see your local fish club! I spent the better part of Saturday at the CAFE, (Columbus Area Fish Enthusiasts), convention and they had lots of great fish for sale. Rusty Wessel even auctioned some of his own livebearers!

I have several rules.Find out what day/s they have their delivery and then think about buying 3-4 days later. Try to get there as soon as they open and by then if there are dead ones hey could still be in the tank.

If they have dead ones in several tanks I never buy from them.

If the place looks dirty and smells run a mile.

Watch how they catch their fish do they clean their nets between tanks?

If it is a new owner of a old trusted LFS start all over again. Ask a few silly questions like can I put that big red Betta fish with those pretty little neons.

I only have 3 LFS in the area and one is a large company owned. The 4th is in a shopping center pet shop totally useless.

Other things I lookout for are Duck Weed, Snails, any fish that looks like it requires attention pale colours etc.

That is all I can of at the moment.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.